Need Advice on TV Service

bluenose1956

Good evening,

I'm looking for some advice on what TV service may be available to me.

I currently use a Sky box as a freeview box, I had to cancel Sky due to the cost.

What I am really looking for is a one-off installation cost.

I have spoken to a guy who said he can install a TV service but I need to have a modem to connect to his box.

Now I am quite remote and the only way I can get broadband of any type is through a mobile (Vodafone) Wi-Fi dongle.

Can anyone tell me if my Wi-Fi can be connected to a modem or give me a pointer on how I can increase my available TV channels.

I have a Samsung "Smart" TV which is not being used to it's capability.

I also have an aerial in the loft to receive the Saorview channels.

Many thanks for any help provided.

bluenose1956

bluenose1956 wrote: »

I have spoken to a guy who said he can install a TV service but I need to have a modem to connect to his box.

This is most likely an illegal service so we couldn't advise you on it.

A Saorview and Freesat install wouldn't require an internet connection and would be a one-off cost.

winston_1

bluenose1956 wrote: »

I currently use a Sky box as a freeview box,

Impossible. Freeview is a UK terrestrial service received through an aerial not a satellite dish.

How many channels do you want? The only way to legally to get more English channels is via a Sky subscription (which you can't afford) or a cable service which is probably not available (and also costs).

There is no other way legally.

bluenose1956

Thanks Karsini, I'm certainly not looking for anything illegal, just want to make the best of the equipment I have.

Do I need another aerial (different from the Saorview one) for a freeview system?

bluenose1956

Winston 1, when I cancelled my Sky, the box and dish remained in place and that is how I currently receive my TV channels, other than the Saorview ones.

bluenose1956

bluenose1956 wrote: »

Thanks Karsini, I'm certainly not looking for anything illegal, just want to make the best of the equipment I have.

Do I need another aerial (different from the Saorview one) for a freeview system?

Freeview is the UK terrestrial TV service, you'd only pick it up in certain parts of the country. You'd need an aerial pointing at NI or Wales and it could be a fairly complicated setup depending on where you are.

Freesat uses the same dish as Sky, you'd just change the box. While you can continue to use your Sky box, you'd get a better experience with a different box.

winston_1

bluenose1956 wrote: »

Winston 1, when I cancelled my Sky, the box and dish remained in place and that is how I currently receive my TV channels, other than the Saorview ones.

Yes that is free to air satellite not Freeview.

bluenose1956

Thanks Karsini, I hadn't realised Freeview and Freesat were two different systems.

So I need a Freesat box, but the Sky dish can remain in place?

Can I buy a Freesat box from DID or similar? Is it a self install or a specialist installation?

bluenose1956

Winston 1, thanks for clarifying, you can see from my reply to Karsini, I hadn't realised there was a difference.

The Cush

bluenose1956 wrote: »

I hadn't realised Freeview and Freesat were two different systems.

This is the list of channels on Freesat - http://www.tvchannellists.com/List_of_channels_on_Freesat_(UK)

On setup, which is self install, the box requires a UK postcode to set which UK regional channels are received, I use BT2 8HQ, BBC Belfast, which gives me BBC1 NI and UTV.

Check out Irish sites freetv.ie and satworld.ie for a range of Freesat receivers, they are available as single tuner zapper boxes and twin tuner PVR recorders.

TheDriver

I got a humax freesat+ box from richer sounds for 252 delivered, cheapest I found. You must have two wires from dish. Note you wil get no Irish channels

Installation is very tough-
1.unscrew two wires from sky box
2. Screw two wires into freesay box
3. Connect to tv and turn on

ShaneOC

bluenose1956 wrote: »

Good evening,

I'm looking for some advice on what TV service may be available to me.

I currently use a Sky box as a freeview box, I had to cancel Sky due to the cost.

What I am really looking for is a one-off installation cost.

I have spoken to a guy who said he can install a TV service but I need to have a modem to connect to his box.

Now I am quite remote and the only way I can get broadband of any type is through a mobile (Vodafone) Wi-Fi dongle.

Can anyone tell me if my Wi-Fi can be connected to a modem or give me a pointer on how I can increase my available TV channels.

I have a Samsung "Smart" TV which is not being used to it's capability.

I also have an aerial in the loft to receive the Saorview channels.

Many thanks for any help provided.

There are a number of options available to you to legally increase the number of channels that you can receive. Some are available today other are coming soon (but we are not quite sure when that is).

1. The easiest way to get the FreeSat channels would be to get a freesat receiver. These will get you all of the free UK channels (the ones you currently have on your Sky box and others such as ITV1 HD, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 5, Channel 5+1, Channel 5 +24, 5 USA, 5 USA +1, 5 Star, 5 Star +1, BBC News HD*). You can get freesat receivers with a hard disk included that will enable you to record one channel while watching another. You will need to continue to use the aeriel and your TV to view the SaorView channels.

2. A basic combo box. This will allow you to combine the SaorView channels and the channels from FreeSat into a single box. They work, but are a bit clunky. You only get now and next information on the satellite channels. Recording may be possible via an external USB disk drive. If a channel changes frequency you will need to manually retune.

3. A linux receiver. Also allows you to combine the SaorView channels and the channels from FreeSat. Many different receivers available and they are highly customisable. PlugIns are available to get full EPG information, or keep the channel frequencies up to date, watch catchup TV. Good solution but does require some technical know-how to get the box set-up and running as required.

4. COMING SOON - SaorView Anywhere. SaorView have announced plans for a new receiver that will combine SaorView and the channels from FreeSat in a single approved box. The exact specs are not known right now but it is hoped that this box will finally make it easy for people to combine the two services (SaorView & FreeSat). It is also planned to have catch up TV built into the receiver (this will require broadband).

For all of these solutions your current sky dish will be perfect. If you had sky+ you should already have two inputs from the dish. If not, you may wish to look into getting a second (or more) input from the dish to allow recording of one channel while watching another.

* Note: These channels are available via your sky box but not on the Irish EPG so you need to manually tune them in "other channels"

nhg

ShaneOC wrote: »

There are a number of options available to you to legally increase the number of channels that you can receive. Some are available today other are coming soon (but we are not quite sure when that is).

1. The easiest way to get the FreeSat channels would be to get a freesat receiver. These will get you all of the free UK channels (the ones you currently have on your Sky box and others such as ITV1 HD, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Channel 5, Channel 5+1, Channel 5 +24, 5 USA, 5 USA +1, 5 Star, 5 Star +1, BBC News HD*). You can get freesat receivers with a hard disk included that will enable you to record one channel while watching another. You will need to continue to use the aeriel and your TV to view the SaorView channels.

2. A basic combo box. This will allow you to combine the SaorView channels and the channels from FreeSat into a single box. They work, but are a bit clunky. You only get now and next information on the satellite channels. Recording may be possible via an external USB disk drive. If a channel changes frequency you will need to manually retune.

3. A linux receiver. Also allows you to combine the SaorView channels and the channels from FreeSat. Many different receivers available and they are highly customisable. PlugIns are available to get full EPG information, or keep the channel frequencies up to date, watch catchup TV. Good solution but does require some technical know-how to get the box set-up and running as required.

4. COMING SOON - SaorView Anywhere. SaorView have announced plans for a new receiver that will combine SaorView and the channels from FreeSat in a single approved box. The exact specs are not known right now but it is hoped that this box will finally make it easy for people to combine the two services (SaorView & FreeSat). It is also planned to have catch up TV built into the receiver (this will require broadband).

For all of these solutions your current sky dish will be perfect. If you had sky+ you should already have two inputs from the dish. If not, you may wish to look into getting a second (or more) input from the dish to allow recording of one channel while watching another.

* Note: These channels are available via your sky box but not on the Irish EPG so you need to manually tune them in "other channels"

Just wondering if there is any update on the 'Saorview Anywhere', cancelled my sky package which should finish up in early May and would be very interested in this (had sky + for years so no saorview equipment currently).

Not big tv watchers, only really follow the soaps but will miss being able to record them & watch them when it suits us. Never watch films, we will keep the sky broadband.

Thank you.

The Cush

nhg wrote: »

Just wondering if there is any update on the 'Saorview Anywhere', cancelled my sky package which should finish up in early May and would be very interested in this (had sky + for years so no saorview equipment currently).

They're calling it Saorview Connect, information coming soon according to a recent Saorview tweet - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=99323199#post99323199